Withers
Captain
In a non-Catholic Church kind of way...
Tears of the Prophets... this episode is full of moments that have stuck out in my mind over the years. It's one that I watch on repeat as I got to sleep at night. Were I asked I could probably quote the entire episode off the top of my head if given the right motivation (“Quote an entire episode of Deep Space Nine or the granny gets it!”) I love the episode but for years now there have been some elements I've been uncomfortable and in spite of loving the episode those have been my... focus. It's just easier for someone like me to complain than to gush.
So what're these weird occurances that stick out so much? Alright, just for fun-
First, we have the fact that Ross rails Sisko in a conversation in which he basically says “I've had it- You can be a Captain or you can be the Emissary but you can't be both.” He says this after he's just recently awarded Ben the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor. Ross seems to have forgotten that were it not for that dual role the Alpha Quadrant would have been invaded by Dominion reinforcements. Whatever the Admiraltys problem with Sisko as the Emissary it isn't hard to posit that it has done more good than bad.
So, yeah, there's that.
Second we have the people who decided to go to Chintoka and the people who don't For some reason Jadzia stays behind instead of Kira and for some reason Julian stays behind instead of Garak. I know, I know- this was Jadzia's last episode and so they had to write her out somehow. I just think it comes off as a little obvious what was going on. It's a nitpick especially given that the crew on the Defiant/Station never made a whole lot of sense to begin with in the first place.
So, yeah, there's that.
The final thing I have a problem with are the quantum torpedoes. We see one of the orbital weapons platforms take like 6 quantum torpedoes before it finally explodes but then an Excelsior class ship takes one out with two phaser blasts. I was like “Aw, c'mon... it shouldn't work like that.” Again, a nitpick, especially given that the effectiveness of weapons versus one another was never clearly established really anywhere in Trek.
So, yeah, there's that.
But here's why I decided to write this post. There was a moment in this episode that I think exemplifies the interconnected nature of the cast of characters on Deep Space Nine. It speaks not only to how they trusted one another but how they respected one another. I might be looking a little too closely but I get the impression from their reaction to one another that they care about each other. It's a really cool moment and if you blink you'll miss it.
Worf: Target Locked.
Kira: Fire.
Worf: We are unable to penetrate the moon's defensive grid.
In this moment Kira is clearly out of her element. She isn't at all sure what to do next and seems especially vulnerable in Sisko's absence. The look on her face is one of reserved panic.
Miles: Sir, I have an idea.
Her eyes brighten in a moment of “Oh, thank god somebody does otherwise we're all dead.”
Kira: Go ahead.
Miles: Maybe we can't destroy that power generator...but I bet those weapon platforms could.
Kira: Why would they fire on their own power source?
Garak: We would have to fool the platforms targeting systems into thinking the generators an enemy ship.
Miles:We could use our deflector array to imprint a Federation warp signature on the generators energy matrix.
It sounds kind of pie-in-the-sky and Kira's obviously no Engineer. She's probably never done anything so elaborate before or even attempted it given her background in homemade explosives and surface warfare and the other people on the bridge are no doubt aware of this. She took command of the ship in a moment of confusion when Sisko became “ill” but it was clear it wasn't a power grab just doing what was necessary. It all comes together for me when she unassuredly looks at Worf. Her face is basically asking “Well... what do you think?”
Worf: It is worth a try.
At that point she decides its what they should do and they go for it, of course winning the day. The exchange the bridge was just... excellent to me. Watching it refreshes why I liked DS9 so much. As great as the writing is the actors just play so well off one another. You can't write what was shown. You can only count on actors displaying it non-verbally and this is one of those DS9 moments that does it flawlessly. While Kira taking over Defiant instead of Worf used to be an issue, in thinking more deeply on it, it seems perfectly natural- a crisis arose and she stepped up to the plate, not to push Worf aside, evidenced by the fact that his 'yes vote' is what sealed the deal on their course of action.
So, there you have it. Tears of the Prophets... this episode is full of moments that have stuck out in my mind over the years. If I am any evidence of anything it's that if you watch this show it only gets better and better over time.
Tears of the Prophets... this episode is full of moments that have stuck out in my mind over the years. It's one that I watch on repeat as I got to sleep at night. Were I asked I could probably quote the entire episode off the top of my head if given the right motivation (“Quote an entire episode of Deep Space Nine or the granny gets it!”) I love the episode but for years now there have been some elements I've been uncomfortable and in spite of loving the episode those have been my... focus. It's just easier for someone like me to complain than to gush.
So what're these weird occurances that stick out so much? Alright, just for fun-
First, we have the fact that Ross rails Sisko in a conversation in which he basically says “I've had it- You can be a Captain or you can be the Emissary but you can't be both.” He says this after he's just recently awarded Ben the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor. Ross seems to have forgotten that were it not for that dual role the Alpha Quadrant would have been invaded by Dominion reinforcements. Whatever the Admiraltys problem with Sisko as the Emissary it isn't hard to posit that it has done more good than bad.
So, yeah, there's that.
Second we have the people who decided to go to Chintoka and the people who don't For some reason Jadzia stays behind instead of Kira and for some reason Julian stays behind instead of Garak. I know, I know- this was Jadzia's last episode and so they had to write her out somehow. I just think it comes off as a little obvious what was going on. It's a nitpick especially given that the crew on the Defiant/Station never made a whole lot of sense to begin with in the first place.
So, yeah, there's that.
The final thing I have a problem with are the quantum torpedoes. We see one of the orbital weapons platforms take like 6 quantum torpedoes before it finally explodes but then an Excelsior class ship takes one out with two phaser blasts. I was like “Aw, c'mon... it shouldn't work like that.” Again, a nitpick, especially given that the effectiveness of weapons versus one another was never clearly established really anywhere in Trek.
So, yeah, there's that.
But here's why I decided to write this post. There was a moment in this episode that I think exemplifies the interconnected nature of the cast of characters on Deep Space Nine. It speaks not only to how they trusted one another but how they respected one another. I might be looking a little too closely but I get the impression from their reaction to one another that they care about each other. It's a really cool moment and if you blink you'll miss it.
Worf: Target Locked.
Kira: Fire.
Worf: We are unable to penetrate the moon's defensive grid.
In this moment Kira is clearly out of her element. She isn't at all sure what to do next and seems especially vulnerable in Sisko's absence. The look on her face is one of reserved panic.
Miles: Sir, I have an idea.
Her eyes brighten in a moment of “Oh, thank god somebody does otherwise we're all dead.”
Kira: Go ahead.
Miles: Maybe we can't destroy that power generator...but I bet those weapon platforms could.
Kira: Why would they fire on their own power source?
Garak: We would have to fool the platforms targeting systems into thinking the generators an enemy ship.
Miles:We could use our deflector array to imprint a Federation warp signature on the generators energy matrix.
It sounds kind of pie-in-the-sky and Kira's obviously no Engineer. She's probably never done anything so elaborate before or even attempted it given her background in homemade explosives and surface warfare and the other people on the bridge are no doubt aware of this. She took command of the ship in a moment of confusion when Sisko became “ill” but it was clear it wasn't a power grab just doing what was necessary. It all comes together for me when she unassuredly looks at Worf. Her face is basically asking “Well... what do you think?”
Worf: It is worth a try.
At that point she decides its what they should do and they go for it, of course winning the day. The exchange the bridge was just... excellent to me. Watching it refreshes why I liked DS9 so much. As great as the writing is the actors just play so well off one another. You can't write what was shown. You can only count on actors displaying it non-verbally and this is one of those DS9 moments that does it flawlessly. While Kira taking over Defiant instead of Worf used to be an issue, in thinking more deeply on it, it seems perfectly natural- a crisis arose and she stepped up to the plate, not to push Worf aside, evidenced by the fact that his 'yes vote' is what sealed the deal on their course of action.
So, there you have it. Tears of the Prophets... this episode is full of moments that have stuck out in my mind over the years. If I am any evidence of anything it's that if you watch this show it only gets better and better over time.
-Withers-
I'll be happy to oblige, there is a lot of good stuff in the episode as well. What was I thinking, commenting on themes that only 3 people had already brought up!
You can find it here.
In what way? 
